Step Down Fitzgerald
A summary of the new amendment to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) bill was published last week by Frances Fitzgerald, who currently holds the office of Irish Minister for Justice, ushered in after her predecessor, who was working to extend the rights of single fathers, was pushed out of office under very dubious circumstances.
While we have yet to see the specifics of the bill, the headers are as follows:
- New criminal offences to protect children against grooming, including online
- New & strengthened offences to tackle child pornography
- New prohibition against sex offenders working with children and vulnerable persons
- Strengthening the post-release supervision and monitoring of sex offenders
- Risk assessment of sex offender and disclosure of information regarding offenders to be placed on a statutory footing
- Increased protection for vulnerable persons
- Introduction of new Harassment Order
- New provisions to be introduced regarding evidence by victims, particularity children
- Gender anomaly in incest law to be addressed
- Age of consent to sexual activity to remain at 17 years of age - Two year proximity clause to be introduced
None of these are particularly illuminating, we'll have to wait and see the details, but one item above is worth a closer look after comments made by Frances Fitzgerald the previous week. That is the head entitled "Introduction of new Harassment Order".
Fitzgerald bragged in the Irish Times that
|
New domestic violence legislation will consolidate and reform domestic violence legislation, “closing the gaps” in current law, the Minister said. The new law will allow Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention. The convention is the first European treaty on violence against women and domestic violence. It requires that member states work to prevent violence, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. Ms Fitzgerald said the new legislation would include measures to develop “more flexible” emergency barring orders, which had been seen as one of the challenges in the convention, given property rights under the Irish Constitution. |
Hang on a minute there.
This "Minister for Justice" is proposing legislation specifically to sidestep the Irish constitution in the name of an ideologically bigoted document, presumably because she knows the Irish public would quite correctly laugh her out of it in the referendum needed to actually change the constitution?
That speaks volumes on the respect Fitzgerald has for the constitution of our nation. That is to say, none.
Under no circumstances should anyone willing to treat the voice of the Irish public and the founding constitution of the Irish Republic with such blatant contempt be in a position to legislate or influence politics in this country.
Step down, Fitzgerald. This nation was ruled by a queen in the not so distant past, we don't want another even if you were one.
And you aren't.
comments powered by Disqus
Once again back with the mighty Niall Boylan on Classic Hits 4FM, we're talking with the public about mens reproductive rights.
Man Suffers Horrific Burns in Domestic Violence Assault
Ken Gregory, 65, from Peterborough, was left with first and second degree burns to 14 percent of his body, after his now ex-wife Teresa Gilbertson, 60, threw a jug of scalding hot water over the back of his head.
Submission to Cosc
MHRI has prepared and submitted a document to Cosc for their consideration as part of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-based Violence.
Domestic Violence Against Irish Men
One of the last great taboo subjects in Irish society today is domestic violence against men. Here's an unsparing look at the realities all too many men face.
Lies in the Family Courts
One man tells the story of his treatment by the divorce courts and how close he came to ending it all. Sadly his experience is far from unique.
Objectification In Irish society
We cover recent events surrounding the Sun newspaper, why it seems to matter so much to some people, and whether or not feminists should be telling women how to dress.
MHRI on Classic Hits 4FM
We had a great chat with Niall Boylan there on Classic Hits 4FM about reproductive rights for men in Ireland today - if women can decide not to be mothers, surely men should be able to decide not to be fathers?
Six out of seven suicides were men
In Galway over the course of one week, seven people committed sucide. Six of those were men.
Not All Domestic Violence is Physical
After the recent decision to allow reporters into the family courts, a clearer picture of the kinds of domestic violence men are suffering in Ireland today is beginning to emerge, something that many feel is intrinsically linked to high male suicide rates.
An Interview with an Irish Man
This is an interview with an Irish man who suffered domestic abuse, violence, and stabbings at the hands of his wife.
Nobody believed him.
Tweets by @MHRIreland
